Validation of thin layer and high performance thin layer chromatographic methods.

Analytical validation is a key requirement to asses and to prove a method's reliability and suitability for an intended use. Planar chromatographic procedures are used in different applications ranging from simple screening tests to sophisticated instrumental quantitative assays of analytes in complex matrices. This paper intends to give guidance on how to adopt international accepted formal requirements and guidelines for validation of these different TLC/HPTLC procedures.

Impurity profiling of pharmaceuticals by thin-layer chromatography.

Although there is a tendency in current pharmacopoeias for favouring HPLC, thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is still a very popular and frequently used analytical method in the pharmaceutical industry. This paper highlights the possibilities of this method in the different areas of pharmaceutical analysis like in-process and intermediate control, illustrated by impurity testing of active ingredients and final products, as well as its application in pharmaceutical research and development, based on some examples reported mainly in the last five years.

Validation and quality assurance of planar chromatographic procedures in pharmaceutical analysis.

Within the process of the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH), 2 guidelines were released containing a standardized terminology, a verified model of requirements for the validation of analytical procedures, and some guidance in the practical aspects of conducting validation studies in pharmaceutical analysis. For planar chromatographic procedures, which may be used at different levels either in qualitative identity testing, assays, semiquantitative limit tests, or quantitative determination of impurities, this paper tries to transfer these formal requirements into practical approaches for validation. Basic acceptance criteria for evaluation of validation experiments based on practical experience are proposed.

Cleaning validation procedure eased by using overpressured layer chromatography.

In the manufacturing plants of many pharmaceutical companies the reaction apparatus is suitable to produce different active pharmaceutical ingredients. After completing the production of a compound the equipment should be cleaned in order to avoid the cross contamination in the next lot of the other products. In the authors' laboratory several chromatographic methods were introduced to measure the amount of the residual substances remaining on the surface of the apparatus after the cleaning procedure.